Bend man sentenced to life in houseguest slaying

A judge has rejected the self-defense claim of a Bend man convicted of killing a houseguest after a drunken Super Bowl Sunday and sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years.

The Bend Bulletin reports that attorneys for 33-year-old Luke Anton Wirkkala argued Wednesday he should have the possibility of parole after five or 10 years. They have argued that he shot 31-year-old David Ryder in 2013 after Ryder attempted to force him to perform oral sex.

Judge Stephen Forte noted the jury that convicted Wirkkala in June rejected the self-defense argument

Oregon law calls for the possibility of parole in first-degree murder cases. A "true life" sentence with no possibility of parole can be handed down in cases of aggravated murder.